GENERAL TRIAS CITY, Cavite (PIA) – Tollway operators are preparing for the high volume of traffic and the anticipated surge in motorists during the Holy Week observance.

The Metro Pacific Tollways South (MPT South), toll operator for Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), as well as its C5 Link segment, foresees an 8 percent to 10 percent rise in vehicle traffic on its toll roads. 

Heavier than usual traffic is expected from March 25, to Sunday, March 31, from the usual 43,000 daily traffic on CALAX, 170,000 on CAVITEX, and 12,300 on C5 Link, where tourists and those going home in the provinces converge.

In a statement, Raul Ignacio, president and general manager of MPT South, highlighted the app and RFID features of the toll operator to better serve motorists.

“Motorists were encouraged to download the MPT DriveHub app to efficiently manage their Easytrip RFID account and receive real-time traffic updates across various MPTC toll roads. Utilizing Easytrip RFID at MPTC Toll Plazas also significantly reduces travel time compared to waiting in long cash lanes,” Ignacio said.

As a prepared measure, the toll operator reactivates its motorist assistance program, dubbed "Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko", which adds more workforce for services including traffic management, toll collection, standby emergency medical services, and incident response teams. 

Even with all of the safety measures in place, Ignacio reminds motorists to perform BLOWBAGETS or the comprehensive checklist for vehicle maintenance of its parts including battery, lights, oil, water, brake, air, gas, engine, tire, and self.

"Poor vehicle maintenance remains a leading cause of breakdowns on expressways, causing inconvenience to motorists. With an anticipated increase in holiday travel during Holy Week, we advise motorists to conduct a thorough BLOWBAGETS check on their vehicles before hitting the road for a smoother travel experience." (RF/PIA-Cavite; with reports from MPTC South)